The art will go on

After 25 years as the president of the local arts council, Monica Grill is stepping back and passing the torch.

At the annual general meeting of the Community Arts Council of Fort St. James, Grill updated the current council on some of the history of the group and a few of the past activities the group has supported or spearheaded.

“I thought it was important for the future direction of the council to know the history,” said Grill.

She detailed just a small list of the many accomplishments of the 32-year-old group, with a “short” list of 21 items which included their yearly concert series, children and youth art workshops and programs, art shows and poetry readings.

She discussed the financial situation of the group, with the group being in good standing right now, with a small amount of savings in the bank, some to go towards sound equipment if the community hall is built.

Grill recognized the community for making the group so successful in its history.

“The support that they have given us over the years is tremendous,” said Grill.

She said the organization has been recognized by other arts councils in the province for being successful and for being fairly progressive.

“We take risks,” said Grill, which she qualified with: “They don’t always work.”

The council was also behind the highly successful Cottonwood Music Festival, which did not run this year, but did well for about a decade.

The group will now go forward with Mary Willick as the new president, and is planning on sponsoring a couple of shows in January of next year, including a performance by soprano Marie-Josee Lord and a fundraiser with performer Russell Jackson, who was BB King’s bass player.